Bettors Wish has been named the 5-2 morning line favourite for Northfield Park’s premier event, the $400,000 Carl Milstein Memorial, which will be contested this Saturday (August 10) at the Ohio oval and will feature a field of eight.
The Millstein – a three-year-old Open by invitation only – has been slated as Race 10 on the 16-dash program, which will get underway at 6 p.m. The Millstein is expected to head to post at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Bettors Wish was the winner of this year’s $300,000 Art Rooney Memorial at Yonkers Raceway. He has won five of eight races this year. His three losses have been runner-up finishes in the $1-million North America Cup, the $682,650 Meadowlands Pace and the $285,362 Cane Pace. The Chris Ryder trainee has banked $624,544 in purses this year and drew Post3. Bettors Wish is owned by the partnership of Chris Ryder, Bella Racing, Fair Island Form and Bettors Wish Partners. They will use Dexter Dunn, who hails from New Zealand and has been a driving force since coming to the United States.
Bettors Wish, pictured in his Pepsi North America Cup elimination at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Century Farroh has drawn Post 2 and has been installed as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line. He will venture south of the border for the first time in his career and is currently riding a four-race win streak. The top Ontario Sires Stakes performer has won eight of nine races this year, and has earned $241,959 for owner Ratchford Stable of Nova Scotia. Trainer Dr. Ian Moore has called on David Miller to drive.
Workin Ona Mystery has drawn Post 5 and is the 4-1 third choice on the morning line. He is fresh off of a 1:51.1 (last quarter :25.3) qualifier at Hoosier Park. Workin Ona Mystery has not missed the board this year and has recorded three wins from six races, including third-place finishes in the North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace. Brian Brown trains the colt at the historic Fairgrounds in Delaware, Ohio for owners Diamond Creek Racing, Stambaugh Leeman Stable (Wauseon, Ohio), Alan Keith (Johnstown, Ohio) and Wingfield Brothers LLC (Kenton, Ohio). Workin Ona Mystery has banked $248,489 in earnings this year and will be driven by Tim Tetrick.
The field for the 2019 edition of the $400,000 Carl Milstein Memorial appears below.
(Post – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line Odds)
1 – Captain Victorious – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke – 8-1
2 – Century Farroh – David Miller – Dr. Ian Moore – 7-2
3 – Bettors Wish – Chris Ryder – Dexter Dunn – 5-2
4 – Yankee Boots – Dan Noble – Steve Carter – 15-1
5 – Workin Ona Mystery – Tim Tetrick – Brian Brown – 4-1
6 – Rockie Got Framed – Ricky Macomber Jr. – Jamie Macomber – 20-1
7 – American Mercury – Tyler Buter – Chris Oakes – 12-1
8 – Southwind Ozzi – Brian Sears – Bill Mac Kenzie – 9-2
The race is named in honour of Carl Milstein, who owned Northfield Park from 1984 until his death in 1999. The Milstein family operated Northfield Park until July, 2018 when MGM Growth Properties purchased the racetrack from Milstein Entertainment, LLC.
In 1972, the senior Milstein, a Cleveland builder and real estate developer, headed a group of several partners, including George Steinbrenner, which purchased Northfield Park. They leased the facility to other operators through the early 1980s. The track lost significant amounts of money during that period before Milstein took full ownership and control. In late 1984 he successfully applied to the Ohio State Racing Commission for the necessary licenses and, beginning in January 1985, conducted permanent race meetings at Northfield of between 212 and 238 days every year.
Milstein was the driving force behind a resurgence of the beleaguered track, which ascended to among harness racing’s top tracks in attendance and handle. He was an innovator in promotions and advertising and successfully led the track into the era of simulcast racing.
Exciting Undercard
This year’s Milstein Memorial program carries total purses in excess of $750,000.
The 16-race program will include the $50,000 Myron Charna President’s Pace, a race for four-year-old and older Ohio-sired pacers (by invitation only), three $40,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old colt trotters, two $50,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old filly pacers, as well as two $15,000 Open events.
A $20,000 Pick 4 guaranteed pool will start in Race 7 and will consist of a $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes race, the Charna, the Open Pace and the Milstein. Another Pick 4 will begin in Race 11 and will offer a $10,000 guaranteed pool.
Guests who want to be down close to all the racing action can gather on the grandstand apron and enjoy live music and food trucks from 6 to 9 p.m. Register for the Charna/Milstein Handicapping Double Contest, play Plinko from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and spin the Prize Wheel 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Admission and parking are always free at Northfield Park.
(With files from Northfield Park)